If you want your brand to stand out from your competitors in e-commerce, you need to build customer trust to the extent that it eventually begins to drive sales.
One of the best ways to do this is with user-generated content (UGC).
Unlike traditional advertising, UGC is authentic content that communicates with your target audience on a different level, since it provides social proof and influences purchasing decisions.
Discover what UGC content is exactly and how it can help your e-commerce increase sales.
Definition of UGC content
UGC or user-generated content is any form of content that isn’t created by the brands but by customers and UGC creators.
There are many different types of UGC:
- Ugc videos
- Social media posts, stories, and Reels
- Reviews and testimonials
- Blog posts
Since people (customers, influencers, and UGC creators) and not brands create UGC content, it’s much more trustworthy in the eyes of your target audience, it appears more honest, and it provides customers with an actual review about the brand and the product.
UGC is like people talking about your brand to other people, instead of you (as the brand owner) promoting your products to other people. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and more trustworthy and reliable, relatable, and, appears more trustworthy than branded content.
By using UGC correctly in your content marketing, you can increase sales, build a strong customer base, increase engagement, and get ahead of your competition.
How to increase sales with UGC?
1. Run UGC Ads
This one is a must if you want to get ahead and boost conversions. Collaborate with a skilled UGC creator Australia for your advertising campaigns for authentic and engaging content. Here’s how to do it:
- Get quality videos from UGC Creators: join a UGC platform and post your project to discover the best creators – give them a detailed brief about your expectations and choose only the videos that best fit your project.
- Targeted Ads: once you select the videos you like the most, use them in your paid ad campaigns. Ads featuring real people using your products can be more relatable and convincing, leading to higher click-through and conversion rates.
- A/B test: make sure to test your ad campaigns and segment your audience. Not all videos will appeal to all, so test to see what works best with each type of audience. That’s how you can create winning video ads that work the best for your brand.Â
- Long-term collaborations: decide on long-term collaborations with creators that produce the best content for your brand. This way you receive constant quality content you can use in your marketing campaigns.Â
2. Add UGC to Marketing Channels
Integrate user-generated content across all your marketing channels to maintain consistency and amplify its impact:
- Social Media: Share UGC on your brand’s social media profiles
- Website: Create dedicated sections on your website for UGC
- Newsletter: Include UGC in your email newsletters to highlight customer stories and showcase reviews
3. Encourage Customer Reviews on Your Website
Customer reviews are a powerful form of social proof that can significantly influence purchase decisions. Here’s how to encourage more of them:
- Incentives: Offer incentives such as discounts, loyalty points, or entry into a giveaway for customers who leave reviews
- Easy Process: Make it simple for customers to leave reviews; remind them to leave reviews with follow-up emails and social media posts
4. Feature UGC on Product Pages
Display UGC on your product pages:
- Photos and Videos: Include customer photos and videos that show how to use the product, before & after, etc.Â
Highlight Top Reviews: Feature the most helpful and detailed reviews on your product pages
